The voice actors behind the main protagonists in Grand Theft Auto V (Michael, Trevor, and Franklin) are speaking out about the role of violence in the game in a new interview with PCAdvisor.

Ned Luke, who plays Michael de Santa in the game says anyone who has an opinion on GTA V and hasn't actually played it should probably be quiet:

"Anyone who has any conception at all about the games and hasn't played them should go play the games before they open their mouths," said Ned Luke, who plays Michael de Santa. "The biggest misconception is that it glamorizes violence. It really doesn't. If you look at my character, Michael, he's rich, but he's a miserable man. Even in the commercials you see that. This is a guy who's struggling with his life's decisions."

Luke says that Michael is a man who loves his family, but has lost himself along the way.

"He's trying to become a good guy, but he can't. He just has all these demons that he's battling. It's the struggle. Take that and look at how he loves his family even though he wants to kill them and that's what it is," Luke said. "Look for the relationships. Look for the humor. Look for the irony and the satire in the game. That's another big misconception, 'What, do they think we're serious?'"

Steven Ogg, who plays Trevor Philips in the game, believes video games are simply an easy scapegoat when real-world violence occurs.

"The hypocrisy drives me crazy," Ogg said. "It just sets the wrong focus. Why not talk about gun control? Why not talk about parenting? Why not talk of lack of family values? There are so many other things to talk about. Look at what's on TV. Breaking Bad had that episode where ********** got his face blown off. There's a lot of intense stuff out there. Video games are just an easy scapegoat. My nephew plays this game. I asked my sister if she was worried because there's some pretty nasty stuff in there and she said, 'I know he's not going to go to school tomorrow with a gun. He's not like that.'"

Former gang member Shawn Fonteno plays Franklin Clinton in the game. He says that a misconception exists that games are just for kids, making it easier for some to criticize the game as marketing violence to children, even though it is rated for adults.

"People already have it in their mind that GTA is for kids because it's a game," Fonteno said. "Then they hear about the violence and they're instantly going to attack because it's a game. Now, if it was a movie it would be a different story and these same people would be out there supporting it. GTAV is like a movie. Once they get the game in their hands, they'll see. It says it big as day--Mature. It's not for the kids to go get. It's for Mature audiences only. If kids get it, then that's on their parents."

The characters have certainly evolved from earlier protagonists like Tommy Vercetti, a Mafia member turned ex-con turned drug dealer, with few redeeming character traits.
That being said, I'd like a future GTA where the protagonist does not already start out as a hardened criminal. Vic Vance was about the closest in Vice City Stories. I think Franklin could have been even more interesting if he didn't already have a gang background. For once I want to see the protagonist as someone who starts off as an average Joe, and is thrust into the underworld by circumstances beyond his control.